Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2008, an annual compendium of data and analysis examining
changes in trade with key U.S. partners and in crucial U.S. industries, was released today by the
U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).

The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, releases the information in
a web-based format that focuses on reasons for key shifts in trade, provides more detail, and can
be searched by country or commodity sector.

Users will find a comprehensive review of U.S. trade performance in 2008, focusing on changes
in U.S. exports, imports, and trade balances of key natural resource, agricultural, and
manufacturing industries, as well as changes in U.S. trade with major partners and groups. Also
included are profiles of the U.S. industry and market for over 250 industry/commodity groups
and subgroups, offering data for 2004 08 on consumption, production, employment, and trade.

The report examines:

how trends in U.S. trade compare with trends in other major industrialized
countries;

what the United States exported to China and what it imported in return; and

how increasing energy prices affected U.S. trade.

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2008 is also available as a CD-ROM. Users can obtain the CD-
ROM version through the "Order CD-ROM" link on the web site, calling 202-205-2000 or
by writing to the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.